NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1748, 26 September 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[Peb Pbess Agency.] | FBOII OUK OWN COEBESX'ONDENT ] Political. WELLINGTON, September 26. The debate on the reply to the address is postponed by the Government until Tuesday, Mr Joseph Sheppard has forsaken the vicinity of the Government Benches, and taken his scat on the Opposition side of the House. The Opposition are somewhat stronger, and the Ministerialists are evidently divided, but the amendment to the reply will not be strongly worded, and “as at present constituted” will probably be introduced to accommodate Otago members who cling to the Macandrew and Fisher arrangement. The Opposition meeting this morning was fully attended. The mode of moving the want of confidence motion was fully discussed, and it was finally resolved that the Hon. J. Hall move the amendment on the address in reply to the Governor’s speech immediately after its being moved and seconded. The amendment is to affirm the readiness of the House to adopt the liberal measures desired by the country, whilst intimating to the Governor that they have no confidence in the Government as at present constilhted. Messrs McCaughan and J. B. Whyte, as to whose views doubts have been expressed, Itended the nesting and gave in their adhesion to the lino of action resolved upon. The NewlToldfield. WELLINGTON, September 26. The Government are taking steps to investigate the representations regarding the discovery of auriferous reefs in the Wairarapa district. It is expected that in a week or two they will be able to settle all doubts and publish the result. The prospectors are only

hundred acre lease, which has been promised them, when they will disclose all the necessary information regarding the discovery. The locality is very accessible. The reefs are described as running for miles, with immense masses of stone. Water power is handy, and there is plenty of timber. The Government Account. It is stated on authority that the Bank of New Zealand is dissatisfied with the conditions on which it holds the Government banking account, and that it has given the necessary notice to terminate the contract. The terms on which the Banks in other colonies hold various public accounts are of a much more advantageous character for the Banks than those given by this colony to its banker. The Wellington MayoraltyAn immense requisition is being got up to induce the Hon. Bandall Johnston to stand for the Mayoralty. Twenty lists are being circulated this morning, and are rapidly filling with signatures. AUCKLAND, September 25. Ihiriri, a very influential chief of Ngatimaniapoto and Wharau, nephew of Rewi, died at Rotorua last night. The Natives report a valuable find of petroleum springs at Te Paoroa, Lake country. The Bank of New Zealand shipped by the mail steamer 38420zs of gold to Sydney. The discovery of rich gold-bearing stone is rumored at Cambridge, Waikato. A man, named Sheridan Hall, has been arrested charged with forging a telegram, for the purpose of defrauding Mr Ooulton, of the .Albert Hotel, of £4O. The case was remanded, the accused being too ill to take his trial. GRAHAMSTOWN, September 25. A tender for the railway bridge at Kanerangi has been acepted. Alexander Watson is the successful tenderer at £763 10s. An engineer, named Qubb, yesterday rose in good health, broke a blood vessel while coughing, and fell down dead. The supply of arms sent from here to outsettlers about Waitara arrived safely. WELLINGTON, September 25. A deputation of settlers visited the Government buildings to-day for the purpose of interviewing Mr Macandrew regarding the line to be selected for the West Coast railway. In the absence of Mr Macandrew, they laid their views before Mr Blackett. The deputation urged that, instead of the Pubaroa route proposed by the Government, the railway should pass through Pohutanui and Horikiwi Valley or Wamai Flat, or else round the head of the Pohutanui Bay. It was pointed out that by adopting the latter route the Government would avoid the expense of a very costly bridge over the Rorirua harbor. They would also avoid a dangerous sand flat and swamp, and in addition would open up a large block of country, known as the small farm block. Fifteen thousand acres of that block has already been surveyed, and would shortly be offered for sale on the deferred payment system; and there was another 100,000 acres waiting to be opened up. Mr Blackett assured them that no particular line would be adopted without the most careful consideration. A meeting of influential citizens was held to-night with the object of forming a fire salvage corps. They were all business men, representing in the aggregate property to the value of £500,000. It was resolved to enrol tan persons in each of the wards to act as officers of the corps, and 200 rank and file working members from the tradesmen and carter classes to remove goods, furniture, or other property, all of whom are to be paid for their services. Thera will be one captain and lieutenant for each ward, who will have command of the corps when the fire is in bis his ward. , Another meeting is to be held on Monday and a committee formed, who will present to the corporation the names of fifty directing members. A meeting was held to-night with the object of getting a candidate for the mayoralty, the result being that a deputation waited upon the Hon. Bandall Johnetou to ask him to allow himself to be nominated. He expressed his willingness to do so, provided a requisition signed by a suitable number of citizens was presented to him. The requisition will be got up at once.